NISO RP-45-2024, Communication of Retractions, Removals, and Expressions of Concern (CREC) | NISO website

Retracted articles use less free and open-source software and cite it worse

Abstract. As an essential mechanism of scientific self-correction, articles are retracted for many reasons including errors in processing data and computation of results. In today’s data-driven science, the validity of research data and results significantly depends on the software employed. We investigate the relationship between software usage and research validity, eventually leading to article retraction, by analyzing software mentioned across 1,924 retraction notices and 3,271 retracted articles. We systematically compare software mentions and related information with control articles sampled by Coarsened Exact Matching by recognizing publication year, scientific domain, and journal rank. We identify article retractions caused by software errors or misuse and find that retracted articles use fewer free and open-source software hampering reproducible research and quality control. Moreover, such differences are also present concerning software citation, where retracted articles less frequently follow software citation guidelines regarding free and open-source software.Peer Review. https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway/wos/peer-review/10.1162/qss_a_00275

Poor visibility of retracted articles: a problem that should no longer be ignored

Christophe Boudry and colleagues call for better identification of retracted articles on publishers’ websites and academic databases to avoid propagating scientific error Article retraction—the withdrawal of an article published in an academic journal1—is “a mechanism for correcting the literature and alerting readers to articles that contain such seriously flawed or erroneous content or data that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon.”2 Although retractions are still rare, with around five retractions per 10 000 articles published,345 rates have increased (box 1).378 Retraction rates were high in the early, acute phase of the covid-19 pandemic14—up to four times higher than during outbreaks of other infectious diseases such as HIV, H1N1 influenza, or Ebola.15 However, the rate is now estimated to be “consistent with the expected overall rate of retraction.”16 Box 1 ### Rise in retractions of biological and medical science research articles Retraction rates vary over time with changes in fraud and error6 as well as efforts by the scientific community to detect and report them.378 Pressure to “publish or perish” in order to secure research funding may contribute to an atmosphere in which some people could be tempted to selectively report results, or worse, commit outright fraud, both of which may lead to article retraction.9 Accelerated research publication, as in the acute phase of the covid-19 crisis,101112 may be associated with less rigorous peer review,13 further increasing the risk of retraction.RETURN TO TEXT Theoretically, citations should stop as soon as articles are retracted. In fact, retractions …